Means for indicating fractures in crank-pins and the like.



H. mm DYKEN. I MEANS FOR 'INDICATING FRAGTURESIN CRANK PINS AND THELIKE.

APPLIOATIION FILED JAN. 8, 1912.

1,05%,392. Patentqa Feb. 4, 1913.

- I I x PATENT @FFTQE.

HARRY VAN DYKEN, OF TWO HARBOR/S, MINNESOTA MEANS FOR INDICATINGFRACTURES IN CRANK -F'IN'S AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4.191s.

Applieation filed January 8, 1912. Serial No. 670,115.

Crank-Pins and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for indicating fractures or cracksappearing in crank pins or the like and is primarily designed for use inconnection with the main crank pin of a locomotive.

It has been found that the main crank pin of a locomotive invariablybegins to crack at the point most remote from the center of the wheeland the crack gradually increases in size until one third or more of thepin has been separated from the wheel, at which time complete separationof'the pin from the wheel takes place. Accidents of this kind have beenvery disastrous and they have been difiicult to avoid for the reasonthat the engineer has had no means for determining when the crack beginsto form.

' The principal object of the present invention is to provide meanswhereby, as soon as the crack begins to form 1n the pm, sutfi cientindication thereof will be had by the engineer and it will thus bepossible for him to bring the locomotive to a stop before the pin hasbecome fully broken off.

Another object is to. provide indicating means which can be appliedto'structures already in use. i

With. the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying-drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings:-Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a wheelhaving the present improvements combined therewith. Fig. 2 is anenlarged section on line A-B Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of acontainer constituting a portion of the present invention., Fig. 4: is aview partly in section and parly in. elevation of the means forretaining and fracturing the container. Referring to the figures bycharacters of reference 1 designates a portion of a'wheel having theusual crank pin 2 extending therefrom. A bore 3 of comparatively smalldiameter is formed within the crank pin and extends a short distancebeyond the face of the wheel, said bore being adjacent that portion ofthe periphery of the pin farthest :removed from the center of the wheelfThat portion of the bore within the part of the pin 2 fitted in wheel 1is counter bored, as at 4 so as to receive a container 5 of glass orother material which will easily break. This container has an inletopening adapted to be closed by means of plaster 6 or the like. The openend of the counter bore 4 is interiorly screw threaded to receive atapered threaded plug 7 having a threaded bore 8 extending therethroughto receive a screw 9. The container 5 is adapted to hold a liquid havinga strong odorand this container is inserted into the counter bore 4 andretained therein by the plug 7. After the parts have been assembled, thescrew 9 is rotated so as to feed inwardly against the container 5 andthis screw ultimately breaks the container so that its liquid contentsflow outwardly into the counter bore 4 and into the bore 3. It will ofcourse be understood that under ordinary conditions the odor of theliquid cannot be detected. When however, the crank pin 2 breaksor cracksat the customary point, and as indicated by the dotted line 10 in Fig.2, the said crack will intersect the bore 3. Obviously, therefore,during a portion of the rotation of the wheel the crank 10 will bepulled open and a por tion of theliquid contents of the bore will befree to escape, and the odor thereof will permeate the surroundingatmosphere to such an extent as to be promptly noticed by the engineer.If the engine is brought to a stop as soon as the odor is first noticed,all danger of the pin breaking off completely will be practicallyeliminated.

What is claimed is i 1. The combination with a crank pin'naving arecess, of a frangible container within the recess, an .odoriferousfluid confined therein, means for holding the container within therecess, means for fracturing the container to release the fluid into therecess, said fluid being adapted to escape from the recess upon thecracking of the pin along a line intersecting the recess.

2. The combination with a revoluble'eier'nent and a crank pin extendingtherefrom, there being a recessed portion revoluble with said element,the recess extending beyond said element and Within the pin, of afrangible container within the recess, means for holding the containerin the, recess, and

lease'the contents int o the recess.

3. The combination with a revoluble element and a crank pin extendingthereit'rom there being a recessed portion revoluble with said elementand projecting therebeyond and within the crank pin, of a frangiblecontainer within the recess, an odormeans for fracturin the container tore.-

Copies otthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

cracking of the pin, and means for closingthe inlet end of the recess.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing-as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

; HARRY VAN DYKEN. Witnesses: 1

JOHN A.. BAIL-on, v HENRY C. Dow, Jr.

Washington, I). C.

